Across the world, communities and individuals are struggling with health on every level—biological, emotional, social, and physical— and research shows yoga can, and should, be used as part of the solution. During this 4-part series, we’ll explore different ways of integrating yoga in healthcare systems and hear success stories from around the world. In Part 2 of this series, we explore findings from the Department of Veterans Affairs in the United States, who has adopted a “Whole Health” approach within their healthcare system and how the program can be applied in other settings. This model supports greater inclusion and implementation of Complementary and Integrative Health (CIH) practices. Yoga is one of the evidence-based approaches the Veteran's Health Administration (VHA) makes available, whether on-site, via telehealth, or through community care. In this session, Alison Whitehead and Marlysa Sullivan will discuss the impact yoga has had within VA’s Whole Health system. They’ll share insights on implementation and support strategies, as well as lessons learned from obstacles they met along the way. Join us for this exciting conversation. You’ll learn: · What “Whole Health” means at the VHA and how this system supports a focus on overall well-being · Important research findings and therapeutic benefits that helped support the growth of yoga as a complementary and integrative health intervention, especially within the Veteran community · Support strategies for yoga program implementation and learnings from obstacles along the way that can support you, no matter what community you’d like to encourage yoga in

We know that yoga is more than asana — and while learning techniques to safely sequence asana and pranayama are an important foundation in yoga teaching, philosophy is also a key component to delivering a well-rounded yoga class. Join sisters Cristal and Pooja Sharma to explore how to introduce the concept of detachment while teaching asana, pranayama, and meditation. We'll discuss how to integrate yoga philosophy in a way that is both accessible for students and works with the flow of your class. You'll learn: · The meaning of detachment · How to incorporate philosophy when planning your class · Teaching methods to integrate the concept of detachment in your class, and how to connect it with asana, pranayama, and meditation